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Merab Dvalishvili names UFC champion he would never fight

Merab Dvalishvili is a fighter who can fight anytime, anywhere… at bantamweight, to be exact.

In the 135lb division, “The Machine” is working toward a title shot this Mexican Independence Day weekend. Dvalishvili and O'Malley headline UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Dvalishvili's first PPV main event.

O'Malley is a fighter he has challenged since his first UFC win in 2018, and now the matchup is fueled by even more animosity, as O'Malley knocked out Dvalishvili's teammate Aljamain Sterling in 2023.

Merab Dvalishvil from the UFC

Jeffrey Swinger-Images

There aren't many fighters Dvalishvili wouldn't face at his bantamweight division, but what about elsewhere? Dvalishvili, a longtime player in the 135-pound division, was asked if he would consider going for a double championship with fellow Georgian Ilia Topuria at featherweight, the weight class above.

UFC 306 Results & Highlights – Sean O'Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

“Never. I will never fight Ilia first,” Dvalishvili told Pound 4 Pound (h/t: Championship rounds). “He's my brother. I really love him. He's a little younger than me, but he's very smart and a very good guy, a family man and a good friend of mine. I will never fight him.

“I sparred with him and he destroyed me. He is stronger than me. I am not afraid to fight, but Ilia is my friend, Georgian, and I will never fight him. I feel very comfortable in my weight class here, 135.”

Topuria represents Spain and Georgia. He won the title against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 earlier this year. There is no guarantee how long Topuria will keep the belt, as Max Holloway and Volkanovski are just waiting to become two-time champions.

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuri

Gary A. Vasquez-Images

Topuria's teammate Dvalishvili isn't thinking about holding two belts just yet. He'll face O'Malley in his first title fight tomorrow night at UFC 306, but the No. 1 bantamweight contender says we'll see him leave the bantamweight division “maybe one day.”

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